24 THE INVERTEBRATE FAUNA 



the Firth, and have always been inclined 

 to regard it as a mere variety of the widely- 

 distributed and polymorphic Asteriasrubens. 

 At present, however, we have followed Mr 

 Norman and Professor Perrier in giving it 

 the rank of a separate species. Forbes 

 states that it is by far commoner than A. 

 rulens at the mouth of the Firth. 



ECHINASTERID.E. 



Solaster papposus (Linn.). 



Firth of Forth (Ed. Mus.). 

 Solaster papposa of Forbes. It is a common 

 species in the Firth. We often got it at 

 low tide, and have dredged it from shallow 

 water to 14 fathoms. It attains a very 

 large size, and in this respect offers a 

 marked contrast to its dwarfed northern 

 congeners, S. lorealis and S. furcifer. 



S. endeca (Linn.). 



Anstruther (J. .) ; Firth of Forth (M'B.}. 

 This species is less common than S. pap- 

 posus. We never obtained it at low water 

 on the rocks, but dredged it frequently at 

 depths of 5 to 16 fathoms. 



Cribrella oculata (Linck). 



Firth of Forth (MR) ; Firth of Forth 

 (F. M. R). 



The Cribella oculata of Forbes. It is a 

 not uncommon species. We have found 

 it among rocks at low water at Aberdour 

 and near Newhaven, and have dredged it 

 on the oyster banks and elsewhere at 

 greater depths. 



GONIASTERID^. 



Hippasteria plana (Linck sp.). 



Firth of Forth (Dr Neill) ;* Firth of Forth 

 (F. M. R). 



* Fleming, "Hist. Brit. Animals," p. 486. Edin., 1828. 



